---
title: Reduce apathy through vagus stimulation
nct_id: NCT07118956
phase: NA
status: RECRUITING
sponsor: Anhui Medical University
study_type: INTERVENTIONAL
canonical_url: "https://parkinsonspathways.com/trial/NCT07118956"
clinicaltrials_gov: "https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07118956"
last_fetched: "2026-05-10T14:06:34.116Z"
source: "Parkinson's Pathways (curated)"
---
# Reduce apathy through vagus stimulation

**Goal (in five words):** Reduce apathy through vagus stimulation

**Official Title:** Respiratory-gated Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Improving Apathy in Parkinson's Disease: A Randomized, Double-blind, Sham-controlled Trial

**Trial ID:** [NCT07118956](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07118956)

## Key Facts

- **Phase:** NA
- **Status:** RECRUITING
- **Study Type:** INTERVENTIONAL
- **Sponsor:** Anhui Medical University
- **Target Enrollment:** 60 participants
- **Start Date:** 2025-05-01
- **Completion Date:** 2027-05-01
- **Conditions:** Parkinson Disease, Apathy, Non-motor Symptoms, Vagus Nerve Stimulation
- **Interventions:** Active RAVANS, Sham RAVANS
- **Intervention Types:** OTHER

## Summary For Families

The goal is to ease apathy and low motivation in people with Parkinson's by boosting the brain circuits that support arousal and goal-directed behavior. The approach uses respiratory-gated transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation, which delivers mild electrical pulses to the ear's vagus branch timed with breathing to activate brainstem and cortical networks that influence norepinephrine and related systems tied to attention and motivation; the trial is randomized, double-blind and compares active versus sham stimulation. It is a noninvasive add-on to usual Parkinson's medications, not a replacement, and participants must keep their meds stable. The team is looking for adults 40 to 90 with Parkinson's who have elevated apathy scores (AMI >1.7), MMSE ≥22, and no DBS, epilepsy, major heart or brain disease, or other key exclusions.

## Eligibility

- **Minimum age:** 40 Years
- **Maximum age:** 90 Years
- **Sex:** ALL

### Full Criteria

```
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Meet the diagnostic criteria for idiopathic Parkinson's disease (based on the MDS Clinical Diagnostic Criteria for Parkinson's Disease (2015 version)).
2. Patients with Apathy Motivation Index (AMI) score \>1.7.
3. All PD patients must be on stable, standardized medication regimens with no adjustments to medications for at least 1 month prior to the study and throughout the study period.
4. Demonstrate good compliance and adherence, capable of completing behavioral tests and taVNS therapy.
5. Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score ≥22.
6. Meet safety criteria for MRI screening.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Prior brain MRI/CT showing focal brain lesions or severe white matter disease (Fazekas grade 3 or higher).
2. Secondary parkinsonism (e.g., vascular parkinsonism, drug-induced parkinsonism).
3. History of severe traumatic brain injury, neurosurgery, or deep brain stimulation (DBS) therapy.
4. Personal history of epilepsy, unexplained loss of consciousness, or current use of anticonvulsant medications for seizure control.
5. Diagnosis of neuropsychiatric disorders other than Parkinson's disease.
6. Current use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or Non-benzodiazepine GABA receptor agonist drug or anticholinergics or corticosteroids, or history of substance abuse or drug addiction.
7. Participation in any clinical trial within the past 3 months.
8. Severe systemic comorbidities (e.g., hepatic/renal failure, arrhythmias, organic heart disease).
9. Pregnant/lactating women or subjects (including males) planning pregnancy within 6 months.
10. Contraindications to taVNS, such as cardiac pacemakers, post-DBS surgery, or auricular pathologies (e.g., tympanic membrane perforation).
```

## Locations (1)

- Cognitive Neuropsychology Lab Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China _(31.8639, 117.2808)_
  - Kai Wang, Ph.D. — (CONTACT) — +8655162923704 — Wangkai1964@126.com
  - Panpan Hu, M.D. — (CONTACT) — +8613515602285 — hpppanda9@126.com

## Central Contacts

- Rong Ye, Ph.D. — (CONTACT) — +8615656050129 — ronye.uk@gmail.com
- Panpan Hu, Ph.D. — (CONTACT) — +8655162923704 — hpppanda9@126.com

---

*Canonical: https://parkinsonspathways.com/trial/NCT07118956*  
*HTML version: https://parkinsonspathways.com/trial/NCT07118956*  
*Source data: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07118956*